I never thought much about hot weather before we moved to Portland.  We’d visited many times, but mostly in spring and fall, when the weather was mild.

What a shock it was when the temperature hit 102 degrees in my driveway a couple of weeks ago.  Since then the thermometer has hovered in the upper 80s most days with the occasional spike in the 90s.

These are the days when all I want for dessert is something light, cold and refreshing.  It could be a little fruity and maybe a little sweet, but not cloying.

I’m talking ice pops, adult-style, with sophisticated flavors like the Thai iced tea and agua fresca pops pictured here.  You can share them with the kids but you’ll be tempted to hoard them for yourself.

Making ice pops (Popsicle is trademarked and off-limits) may be one of the simplest tasks in the kitchen.  You can’t really call it cooking.

All you need is a blender or food processor and molds, which are available everywhere right now.  If you don’t want molds taking up space in your cupboards all year, paper cups and wooden craft sticks will do the trick.

Whirl the ingredients together in the blender, pour them into molds and freeze.  Let the mixture get a little slushy in the freezer before you add the sticks.

That’s it. Just be sure to allow plenty of time for the pops to freeze firmly.  Overnight is best.

These frozen treats pay tribute to Latin American and Southeast Asia.  They may require side trips to ethnic markets but the flavor is worth it.

If you’d prefer your ice pops with a little kick, though, try these from a previous post.

Happy slurping.